France, 1911. Louise Perreau is struggling financially to raise her 10-year-old son Gaston. The prospect of a new job in Paris brings her the hope of a better life. She has to enrol her son at Les Vermiraux, where children are supposed to get a good education.

France, 1911. Louise Perreau is struggling financially to raise her 10-year-old son Gaston. The prospect of a new job in Paris brings her the hope of a better life. She has to enrol her son at Les Vermiraux, where children are supposed to get a good education.

But the institution is in fact a horrible place where the young boarders are abused and exploited. A revolt breaks out, staff are violently attacked and the site is wrecked. A young judge starts a legal action against the ringleaders, but also against the two local bigwigs in charge of the institution.